Mindful meditation

Study: Body-mind training tied to healthy brain changes

12:20 PM,
Jun. 17, 2012

Congressman Tim Ryan runs in the Cleveland Marathon. In what's become a daily ritual, Ryan finds a quiet spot, closes his eyes, clears his mind and tries to tap into the eternal calm. Increasingly, people in settings beyond the serene yoga studio or contemplative nature path are engaging in the practice of mindfulness, a mental technique that dwells on breathing, periods of silence and concentration to keep one's thoughts in the present moment.

Written by

HealthDay

Just a few hours of meditation training may change your brain for the better, a small, new study suggests.

Researchers using imaging technology have found that people develop measurable changes in the white matter of the brain after learning "mindfulness meditation." Also called "integrative body-mind training," it involves periods of intense focus and concentration.

"The notable physical changes suggest that short-term meditation can improve self-control, mood, stress response and immunity response," said Michael Posner, a co-author of the study and a professor emeritus at the ...